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(No Model.)-

G. W. GROUSE.

, WASH'TUB.

No. 326,480. Patented Sept. 15, 1885 WITNESSES. INVENTOR- N, PETERS, Phnln-Liihugraphan Walhingtnn. I)v c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. GROUSE, OF LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

WASH TU B.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,480, dated September 15, 1885.

Application filed March 28, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. ORoUsE, of Lexington, Davidson county, North Oarolina, have invented a new and Improved Wash-Tub, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention pertains to an improvement in washing-tubs; and the invention consists of the combinations of parts and their construction, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved washing-tub. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, and Figs. 4 and 5 are details.

I attach a lid, a, to each end of the tub I), one of which is to be used for preparing the clothes for washing and the other one to receive the clothes after being washed and preparatory to being hung up to dry. To enable said lids to be folded over the tub, as shown at the left hand of Figs. 1 and 2, I propose to hinge them to the ends of the tub, and for this purpose will employ brackets c, which I pivot to the sides of the tub at (I, said brackets pro 3o jecting beyond the ends of the tub when the lids are opened, and having the lid pivoted to them at 6, beyond which they form arms f, on which the lid rests'. stops to rest in seats 0 in the ends of the sides of the tub to hold them up level. I also pivot the legs'i to the sides of the tub at j, near the bottom and at a suitable distance from the ends of the tub, for the application of the stay-brackets is, having a slot, Z, constructed on the radius of the pivot j, for securing the legs in any desired inclination within the range of the slots by clamp-screws m, passing through the legs and slots of the stays, and screwing into clamp-nuts n at the front of the legs.

The pivots j for the legs are formed on rods extending through the tub from side to side, and partly embedded in the lower surface of the bottom, which rods, together with others,

o in the bottom and pat the ends, are employed to draw the top up and hold the sides The brackets have firmly with heads and nuts against the ends and bottom, which are tonguedand grooved into the sides. The rods p have long braced cleat-washers h, to distribute the stress of the rods.

I propose to arrange the valve q, empoyed to stop the hole in the bottom of the tub, through which the water is to be discharged from the tub, on the end of a lever, s. which is pivoted at t, and projects from under the tub on theside where the operator stands, for convenience in opening and closing the valves by swinging it forward and backward to and from the opening, and to press the valve up tightly against the bottom over the hole.

I have a button, a, suitably pivoted to the side of the tub at o, to force the lever down by the eccentric end of said button.

Inside of the tub, and near the middle, I arrange the notched bars 20 vertically on each side of the tub, to hold the washer by which the clothes are to be washed, and I make a series of notches, so, in one pair and steps 00 in the other pair of said bars, and fix one of each pair of the bars on a pivot, e, enabling it to be swung back to release the washer, for enabling the washer to be shifted higher .or lower in the tub, as may be required, and

I fix a button, 2, with each of the pivoted bars, to hold it in the position for retaining the washer. This washer will consist of a pair of rolls fixed on any suitable base, by which to be supported in the notched and stepped bars, one of which rolls will have a stem extending through the slot at in one side of the case, and be fitted with a crank to turn it, which said washer it is not necessary to show in the drawings, as the contrivance of the supporting-bars may be understood as well without it.

I arrange a spout, b, under the waste-pas sage for receiving the-water and discharging it into any receptacle. The lid forms a cover to protect the tub from the sun and rain when not in use.

By taking out the clamp-screws m, the legs 1' may be folded up along the tub for economy of space, when required.

On one side of the top of the tub I arrange a shelf, 0 for a soap-cup, for the convenience of the operator.

up with nuts.

For closing the notch a to maintain a higher level of water in the tub at times when it may be desired and the washers removed, I have provided a valve, d,which consists of a block of wood or metal with a face of leather or rubber, and have fitted it on a spring, 6, attached to the side of the case by a pivot, f, on which it may be turned to shift the valve up or down to close or open the slot, said spring being set suitably for pressing the valve against the side of the case with suflicient force to hold the water back.

For pivoting the brackets c to the sides of the tub, -I use thimbles 9, having a flange, h, on which I fit the brackets to turn between the flange h and the side of the tub, with a washer, 9 between them, said thiniblesbeing fitted in the wood sides of the tub, and having the front bolts, cl, extending through them, said bolts and the bolts 6 extending through from side to side of the tub, and being screwed I also pivot the lid a to the brackets c in the same manner.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The lids a,hinged to the brackets of, and said brackets hinged to the sides of the tub, and having stops 9, and the tub provided with stop-rests c, in combination, substantially as described. j

2. The combination, with the tub I), of legs 43, hinged to the tub at j, and connected by clamp-bolts'm and nuts n with the slotted stay-brackets k, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the tub, the valve q, fitted on the lever 8, having a fulcrum, t, and extending from under the tub to the operators position, and a button, u,on the side of the tub, adapted to hold the valve closed and stop the waste passage, substantially as described.

4. The washer-holding bars w, arranged in pairs, one pair having a series of notches, as, and the other pair having steps as for the washer, one bar of each pair being fitted on a pivot, y, to open for the adjustment of said washer, in combination with the wash-tub b,

having a fastening-button, z, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the valve'd and adjustable spring-holder e with the tub b,

having a slot, a, in the side, substantially as described. i

6. The'combinatiomwith the wash-tub b,-of lids (1r, pivoted to brackets c, whichare jointed to the tub, the said joints comprising the flanged thimbles g and pivot-bolts,substantially as described.

- GEORGE W. GROUSE.

-Witnesses:

H. J. BERRIER, W. H. HUNT. 

